Just bought the vivitar telescope for my daughters birthday. If we look through the tube where you put the eyepiec we can see the reflection of our eye, but when we put the eyepiece in it is pitch black. There are no lens caps on. We have tried both eye pieces.

hi Bienfechiva.
this is all i could find from the internet.
( Put the eyepiece with the largest number written on it into the focuser. ... Turn the focus knob back and forth slowly until the image is in sharp focus.)
as you say you have the manual so no point it sending you to that link.
so go to this link and see if it helps.


Tasco Galaxsee 46114500 500 114mm Telescope No image through the eyepieces...

The picture in your post is NOT a reflector style telescope:

This is a reflector:
http://www.company7.com/orion/telescopes/orion06f8dobi.html

Notice that the eyepiece is in the FRONT side of the scope. Take the front lens cap off-- the primary mirror is on the BOTTOM of the tube.

Put the diagonal in the scope first and then put the eyepiece with the largest number written on it into the diagonal. TURN THE FOCUS KNOB to focus the telescope. Practice during the day time on a distant object.

Read my TIPS on my profile page.

The only thing I know of that can cause this effect is if you are looking into the eyepiece mount of a reflector telescope without there actually being an eyepiece in it. Seeing your own eye in this situation is a check that the collimation (lining up of the optical elements) is good.

You need to put an eyepiece into the mount. This scope is meant to come with two eyepieces, but if you bought it second-hand and didn't get them, you can buy eyepieces from several sources, including Amazon and eBay. Measure the eyepiece tube's inside diameter. The most common barrel size for eyepieces is 1.25 inches, but there are also some small telescopes that use eyepieces just under an inch (.965") in diameter, which are harder to find. If you have to buy eyepieces, they are likely to cost more than this scope is really worth.

There is a good website for telescope beginners at THIS LINK

Commonly available astronomical telescope eyepieces are 1.25 inches in outside diameter. If the eyepiece tube on your scope is that dimension (inside diameter) then you will have no trouble finding lots of them in various focal lengths on Amazon or eBay. However, there are lots of "toy" telescopes that use proprietary eyepieces of smaller sizes, and these would be harder to get hold of.

This is a REFLECTOR style telescope. Ligght enters the main tube hits the large mirror on the bottome and is reflected back to the small mirror which is tilted and reflects out into the focuser and the eyepiece.

The focuser is on the FRONT of the telescope. This is the end pointed UP==

Go outside during the day and practice focusing on a distant object using the eyepiece with the largest number written on it. You will NOT see the second smaller mirror when you are in focus.

Read my tips on my profile page and read this:
http://www.texasastro.org/telescope.php

You did not say what model or type of telescope you have-- most of the Vivitars are very simple telescopes --- they all work the same way -- there are two basic types of telescope:

Reflectors -- which use mirrors, and the eyepiece is inserted into the side of the tube

Refractors - these "look" like a telescope-- and use a lens in the front and an eyepiece in the back.

Meade maintains a web site for all of their telescopes. Look here and download one that is similar to your telescope under Refractors or Reflectors.

http://www.meade.com/manuals/index.html

I am assuming by "lens" you mean eyepieces.

You don't need to get Vivitar brand eyepieces to get additional ones for your telescope. I'm not sure of the specifications for this particular telescope but in general they come in two barrel sizes for the eyepieces. The diameter of your eyepiece is probably 0.965" but could come in the more standard 1.25". You can measure the diameter and determine this quickly.

Once you know the diameter to shop for you can look for the focal length of the eyepiece you wish to purchase. They are rated such as 4mm, 10mm, 25mm, etc. The smaller numbers give you higher magnification. You can calculate the magnification by dividing the telescopes focal length by the eyepiece focal length. For example, let's say your telescope is has a focal length of 360mm and you have an eyepiece rated 10mm. Divide 360 by 10 and that gives you a magnification power of 36.

You can find eyepieces at many telescope dealers on the internet. Your selection will be far less if you use 0.965" eyepieces. You can purchase 0.965" to 1.25" adapters so that you can use the larger eyepieces with your telescope. However, on some telescopes the adapters will cause the new eyepiece to not come into focus.

You'll also find that eyepiece prices go all over the place. A good general purpose eyepiece is a type called the Plossl. The better eyepieces have more coatings too that allow more light to get through to your eye. You'll find these listed with terms like "fully multi-coated".

I hope this helps.

Good luck and clear skies!

-jodair

You sure it did not have one or two eyepieces???

Anyway-- eyepieces come in 3 sizes--- .965, 1.25, and 2 inch sizes--- your's is either a .965 or a 1.25 measure the hole---

You can buy eyepieces at these web sites--

http://www.telescope.com/control/category/~category_id=eyepieces/~pcategory=accessories

http://www.agenaastro.com/

If your telescope is like the picture you posted it is a refractor style telescope on an ALT AZ mount-- very simple to operate..... up down--- left right.

Use it during the daytime first--- put in the lowest magnification eyepiece-- that's the one with the LARGEST number on it; and try focusing on a distant object to learn how to do this.

Then align the small finder scope crosshairs with the object in the eyepiece. Your first nighttime object should be the moon.